Irish Language Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22 April (WA 55) concerning the 2004 budget for the Irish Language Agency, who attended the meetings on 18 September and 2 October 2003; where these meetings were held; and whether they will place copies of the minutes of the meetings in the Library of the House.

Baroness Amos: As a result of a typographical error the Answer given on 22 April 2004 (WA 55), incorrectly stated that a meeting took place on 2 October 2003 rather than 3 October 2003.
	I should also clarify that the meeting on 18 September 2003 was held in the Interpoint Centre, 20-22 York Street, Belfast and solely involved officials from the two sponsor departments, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA). Irish Language Agency officials were not present at that meeting.
	The meeting on 3 October 2003 was held in the offices of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mespil Street, Dublin, and involved officials from DCAL, DCRGA, the Irish Language Agency and the Ulster-Scots Agency.
	In relation to providing copies of the minutes of these meetings I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 23 April 2004 (WA 63).

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 29 March (WA 127) and 10 May (WA 1) concerning the 2004 budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency, why they state that "proportionality was maintained at the same level as in previous years as no new factors have emerged" if there was no consultation between the agency and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 23 April 2004 (WA 63).

Ulster Scots Academy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 6 April (WA 219) and 13 May (WA 47) concerning consultants employed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, who was on the evaluation panel which selected the consultants; and why consultants with expertise in the Ulster Scots language were not employed.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the Answer given on 13 May (WA 47) regarding the composition of the evaluation panel. Expertise in the Ulster Scots language was not considered necessary for the preparation of a business case.

Northern Ireland Department ofCulture, Arts and Leisure

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 May (WA 96), whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure objected to the Ulster-Scots Agency's organisation of the Washington reception in 2001.

Baroness Amos: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure did not offer any views in relation to the agency's organisation of the Washington reception in 2001.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What increases there have been in salary and expenses for civil servants from the United Kingdom and from Eire working on the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies since the bodies were created, expressed in monetary and percentage terms for all grades.

Baroness Amos: Those Northern Ireland and Irish civil servants working on the North/South Implementation Bodies are based primarily in the central finance departments, the sponsoring departments, OFMDFM and the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat. The salaries and expenses of staff in the Irish Civil Service are of course a matter for the Irish Government.
	Since the creation of the bodies, the salaries of Northern Ireland civil servants have been reviewed with effect from 1 April in the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 as part of the annual pay review for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) as a whole. The annual base pay increases awarded to Northern Ireland civil servants working on North/South Implementation Bodies are as follows. These are shown in percentage terms only as it is not possible to express them meaningfully in any other way.
	
		
			 Year Civil servantsbelow SCS Senior civil servants 
			   
			 2004 Not yet agreed Not yet agreed 
			 2003 3.67% 5.37% 
			 2002 4.8% 4.38% 
			 2001 4.85% 4.4% 
			 2000 4.5% 4.4% 
		
	
	There is a wide range of out of pocket expenses which can be claimed by Northern Ireland civil servants in connection with their official duties. The most common are in respect of mileage and subsistence. Subsistence rates have remained unchanged since 2000. Mileage allowance changes for the years in question are set out below in monetary terms only, as the basis on which these rates were payable changed radically.
	
		NICS Motor Mileage Rates 2000–02
		
			 Cars with Up to 1000cc 1001–1500cc 1501–2000cc Over 2000cc 
			 engine capacity: p per mile p per mile p per mile p per mile 
			 Up to 4,000   miles 28 35 45 53 
			 Over 4,000   miles 17 20 25 36 
		
	
	
		NICS Motor Mileage Rates 2002–04
		
			 All Engine Capacities: Per Mile 
			 Up to 10,000 miles 40p 
			 Over 10,000 miles 25p

Northern Ireland: Loyal Order Parades

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Tourism Ireland or the Northern Ireland Tourist Board have helped to promote Loyal Order parades in Northern Ireland during the past five years; and, if so, in what way.

Baroness Amos: During the past five years the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has featured the Loyal Order parades on its product database, ensuring that they are available through its consumer website and through tourist information centres. These have also generally featured in its annual events listing brochure throughout this period although in 2004 only the Maiden City Festival (Apprentice Boys of Derry Parade) was featured. NITB has met with the Orange Order to discuss future promotion of the 12 July parades. NITB contributed £20,000 in 2001–02 and £25,000 in 2002–03 towards the Maiden City Festival.
	Tourism Ireland has not promoted Loyal Order parades in Northern Ireland.

Cuba

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the United States Administration concerning the recommendations of the report by the United States Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba which focuses on forcing a regime change in Cuba.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We do not believe that sanctions offer the most effective means of promoting the transition to a pluralist democracy in Cuba. The EU has expressed its rejection of all unilateral measures against Cuba which are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade. Our position, which is well understood by the US Administration, is one of constructive engagement and dialogue. This is clearly set out in the EU's common position on Cuba which was adopted in 1996, and which has been regularly reaffirmed since. On 4 November 2003, we again voted against the US embargo at the United Nations General Assembly.

Cuba

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will support measures to encourage holidaymakers to visit Cuba as part of the policy of constructive engagement, dialogue and trade promotion with the Cuban Government.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: EU member states are the biggest investors in Cuba, and its major partners in trade and tourism. The UK has shown strong commitment to such engagement, and we welcome and support the fact that an increasing number of British tourists are taking their holidays there. The British Embassy and the British Council have been among the most active of foreign missions in Havana in promoting cultural, educational and sporting exchanges in recent years which themselves are encouraging interest in and tourism to Cuba.

Cuba

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they will take to improve United Kingdom and European Union relations with Cuba in the fields of tourism, trade investment, business and cultural exchanges.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK's policy with Cuba is defined by the EU common position, which sets out a relationship based on constructive engagement and dialogue. Through this relationship the EU has become the biggest investor in Cuba and its major partner in trade and tourism. The UK has shown strong commitment to such engagement, and we maintain close co-operation in areas that encourage trade, tourism, education, sport, science and cultural links between the two countries. British tourism to Cuba is increasing.
	Following a crackdown on the peaceful opposition in March 2003, the EU—in line with the common position—condemned Cuba's actions and adopted a series of measures that reflected our human rights concerns. The Cuban response to these measures was to reject all EU development aid, and to freeze contact with EU embassies in Havana. Despite this, British-funded programmes and projects with Cuba remain very active.

Cuba

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider Cuba to have ownership of a biological, chemical or nuclear weapons capacity.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Cuba has made clear its position on this issue through its adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention and its recent accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United Kingdom routinely monitors the compliance of all states parties with their obligations under these international agreements.

Cuba

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the key elements of their policy towards the Government and people of Cuba.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK, along with EU partners, adopted a common position on Cuba in 1996. This is a clear statement of the existing EU policy of constructive engagement to achieve political and economic reform; progress on which is the key to improved EU/Cuba relations. The common position has stood unchanged since 1996, and was re-evaluated on 15 June 2004. The common position identifies that:
	"the main objective of the European Union in its relations with Cuba is to encourage a process of peaceful transition to pluralistic democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people."
	We see a relationship based on constructive engagement as the best way to achieve this. EU member states are the biggest investors in Cuba and its major partners in trade and tourism. The UK and other member states have shown strong commitment to such engagement.

Helms-Burton Act

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the United States proposals to consider activating Title III and fully enforcing Title IV of the Helms-Burton Act 1996; and what would be the ramifications of activating Title III for British business interests in Cuba.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government do not believe that the United States intends to change its existing policy whereby a waiver on Title III is renewed every six months.
	Title IV is invoked occasionally but the Government have received no indication that the United States intends to do so again in the near future.

People Trafficking: South-east Europe

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What help they are giving, either individually or as part of a concerted approach, to each of the countries of south-eastern Europe, in order to combat the trafficking of persons for exploitation.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK is committed to tackling this serious crime, particularly in the key area of south-eastern Europe. Through Reflex, a multi-agency task force set up in 2000 to tackle organised immigration crime, we are funding a range of projects in the region, such as providing an adviser on trafficking to the Bulgarian Government, and a network of immigration liaison officers covering 22 key source and transit countries in Europe. In the last financial year, we funded projects in the region at a total cost of over £1.7 million. We also work closely with our EU partners, the OSCE, NATO, other international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and NGOs such as the International Organisation for Migration.

Guantanamo Bay and Iraq: Interrogation Methods

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have been informed of the advice given to the United States Government by Pentagon lawyers concerning the legality of the use of harsh methods of interrogation in Guantanamo or Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No. The documents concerned are internal US Government papers that were not shared with the British Government.

Cyprus: Sovereign Bases

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the memorandum of understanding between the British High Commission and the Republic of Cyprus concerning refugees in the Sovereign Bases; and whether this deals with the future of such refugees already living within the bases.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: A copy of the memorandum of understanding has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The memorandum of understanding does not cover the refugees already in the Sovereign Base areas. However, we are discussing their future with the Cypriot authorities.

Cyprus: Green Line

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether European Union citizens can now cross the Green Line from northern Cyprus into southern Cyprus; and whether any restrictions on such movement are now applied by the Greek Cypriot Government.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to the noble Lord, the Lord Monson on 17 May (Official Report, col. WA 70).

School Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Department for Education and Skills intends to assess progress towards achieving its 2002 public service agreement on physical education and school sport.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: On 29 April 2004 my department published the results from the first PE, School Sport and Club Links Survey. The annual survey is primarily designed to help us to measure progress towards the joint DfES/DCMS PE and School Sport PSA target—75 per cent of five to 16 year-olds spending two hours a week on high-quality PE and school sport—but it is also collecting important data on the type and range of provision that schools offer.
	Copies of the first PESSCL survey questionnaire and the published results have already been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

BBC: European Union Support

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the BBC received any funding by way of grant or loan from the European Union in the period 2000–04; if so, what was the amount paid in each year; and for what purpose.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: BBC's producers' guidelines make clear that co-funding from any third party is not appropriate for programmes aimed at a general audience. But the BBC does receive some EU funding for some specialised educational and support material (such as basic literacy and IT skills training for adults). For the period 2000–03, the BBC expected to be paid £375,828 by the European Social Fund to help to pay for community outreach work (workshops, publicity, telephone support, databases) among learners and tutors using the BBC's online Skillswise and WebWise sites, which provide literacy, numeracy and IT skills resources. For the period 2003–04, the BBC is expecting to receive a sum of between £130,961 and £139,959 in support of a pilot project which provides specially versioned online resources (basic skills and English as a second language) which are being used in community centres, learning centres (including UK online centres) and colleges.
	The corporation also participates in various initiatives relating to the digitalisation and preservation of archives, which is funded from the Commission's R&D framework programme, the sums received or expected for these purposes being £74,837 in 2000, £52,024 in 2001, £133,394 in 2002, £195,125 in 2003 and £146,500 in 2004.
	The World Service Trust is an independent charity which is not a division of the BBC, but it has also received some EU funding for media literacy, training and reconstruction projects across the world as follows:
	1999–2000 £137,373 2000–01 £527,432 2001–02 £490,703 2002–03 £865,119 2003–04 £1,167,251
	The BBC does not borrow from the EU, although its commercial subsidiaries do borrow from the European Investment Bank for commercial purposes.

Identity Documents

Lord Selsdon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which documents issued by government departments are accepted as proof of identity; and for which purposes.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested is not held centrally. However, a trawl of departments has produced the following information. Documents are also issued for internal departmental use only. However there may be circumstances where outside organisations have accepted these as proof of identity. Individual departments should be able to provide more information if required.
	The United Kingdom Passport Service, an executive agency of the Home Office, issues passports to British nationals in the UK. British passports are issued at the discretion of the Secretary of State by exercise of Royal prerogative, in line with the British Nationality Acts. A passport is issued only after an applicant's nationality status and identity has been confirmed, and is accepted throughout the world as proof of these.
	In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues diplomatic identity cards, which prove that the holder is a serving foreign diplomat in the UK. Overseas, the FCO issues the following documents: passport; birth certificate; death certificate; certificate of British nationality—issued to a host government when a British citizen in that country has no acceptable ID; declaration of identity (GV3)—issued to a foreign national travelling to the UK who cannot hold a recognised passport.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), an executive agency of the Department for Transport, and part of its Driver Vehicle and Operations (DVO) group, issues provisional and full driving licences. The Driving Standards Agency requires the licence to be produced to show entitlement to undertake a test of competency to drive. Other organisations, in both the public and private sector, accept a driving licence as proof of identity.
	Within the Department for Transport, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) issues a warrant pass to all inspectors of air accidents. These are used as proof of identity and detail the inspector's powers. The Marine Accidents Investigation Branch also issues identity cards to all its inspectors, which list their powers.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of DfT, issues the following documents that refer to a seafarer's identity: British seaman's card; discharge book; certificate of competency. Currently none is officially an identity document, but may be accepted as a form of identification in certain circumstances.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issues it own identity card to those officers who exercise statutory powers, for example inspectorates and veterinary officers.
	In the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 11 fire inspectors are issued with identity cards as are 350 planning inspectors. In both cases the cards are for identification purposes and give no right of access.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has issued guidance to help people to prove their identity for social security purposes. They list the following as papers which can be used to help to prove identity.
	Valid passport/ID card
	Two or more passports if of dual/multi nationality
	Home Office documents
	Work permit
	Letter from employer/contract of employment
	Evidence of actively seeking work
	Payslips
	Mortgage/rental agreement of letter confirming where residing
	Marriage/birth certificate/deed poll
	Student loan documentation
	Certificate of incorporation
	Memorandum of association
	Articles of association
	Stock transfer form
	Schedule D taxation form
	Services contract
	Invoices
	Letter from accountant
	Letter from clients
	Letter from college, including details of type and length of course and weekly hours
	Student ID card
	Full driving licence
	Documents issued by departments and agencies in Northern Ireland are shown in the table below.
	
		
			 Type of Identification and Issuing Department/Agency Purpose 
			 Electoral identity card. Issued by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. To prove entitlement to vote at Northern Ireland elections. 
			  
			 Concessionary fare Smartpasses (various types including the Senior Smartpass for over 65s). Issued by the Department for Regional Development. To prove entitlement for concessionary fares on scheduled public transport services. Of these, the Senior Smartpass is an acceptable form of identification at Northern Ireland elections. 
			  
			 Photographic driving licences (full and provisional). Issued by the Department of Environment. To prove entitlement to drive different vehicles either as a learner or as a fully qualified driver. Northern Ireland driving licences are also very widely accepted as a general form of official ID, accepted by banks, airlines, shops and can also be used to prove entitlement to vote. 
			  
			 Official document indicating IACS number and farm business number for use by farmers in Northern Ireland. Issued by the Department for Agriculture & Rural Development. Farmers are eligible to apply for EU Peace 2 money's under certain measures. As proof of their identity they are required to produce individual IACS and farm business numbers. 
			  
		
	
	In addition to these forms of ID, various Northern Ireland government departments issue certain staff with specific job-related official identification to enable them to carry out their duties. For example, trading standards officers are issued with a warrant card which empowers them to enforce a range of legislation including the authority to enter and inspect premises. Whilst these ID cards are official forms of ID, they are intended to be single-purpose only and are not widely used beyond the scope of the pass-holders duties, as proof of identity.
	Focus Groups: Government Expenditure

Identity Documents

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 5 May (WA 122why they do not hold figures centrally for government expenditure on focus groups.[HL2963]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: It is for departments to decide how much of their total administration budget it is appropriate to spend on focus groups. Consequently detailed data of each department's administration expenditure are not collected centrally.